by J. D. Weston
"Leo was a strong man, a practised killer. He was feared throughout the East End, but he was also one of those men who carried his presence well. He was respected. He was gentle to those who needed a softer touch, but he could be brutal. Leo had this gift. He could make people talk. He'd barely touch them and they would tell us everything we needed to know. He'd deliver death slowly, drawing out the pain and savouring the screams like a king savouring the finest wines. I liked Leo, everybody did. But one day, our boss, a powerful man, called me into his office alone and told me to finish Leo."
"Finish Leo?" asked Luan.
"Kill him. Leo had failed the boss. He had made his own judgment call and allowed a woman who had wronged the family to live; he’d allowed her to escape. The boss found out. Of course, I followed my instruction and lay in wait inside Leo's house, hidden in the darkness of the shadows. I waited all night for him to return, something I was accustomed to. But Leo was a dangerous man. I had one chance, and if I failed, he would have killed me. When he stepped past me in the darkness, I reached out and cut his throat. One slice. No turning back. His wife, Olivia, had been standing behind him. I hadn't seen her."
"That was a mistake," said Luan.
Adeo stared at the ground and nodded. "She fell to her knees and screamed, louder than I ever heard a scream before, piercing and haunting. She was beautiful, even in her anguish. Leo had been the envy of the firm." Adeo looked up and stared at Luan. "I cut her throat too. I laid her on top of Leo so they may die together with the knife in her hands, and I ran." Adeo let his head fall back. Harvey saw a thin shiny trail of tears stream from his eye. "A small girl sat on a chair by the front door beside a baby in a hamper."
Harvey snatched his head up and lurched at Adeo. His rope snapped tight. "You bastard!" he shouted, and swung his legs to connect with Adeo. But Adeo stepped away to the limit of his rope out of Harvey's reach.
"Untie me, Luan," snarled Harvey. "Untie me now."
"You're in no position to-"
"I said untie me." Spit flew from Harvey's lip. His wild eyes were wide with anger and hatred.
"I picked up the children, and I ran from the house."
"No!" screamed Harvey. "Stop."
Neighbours had heard her scream. They gathered in the street and saw me run from the house," continued Adeo.
"No more, you bastard," Harvey yelled. He was snatching at the rope, pulling it in all directions, looking for a weakness in the fixing.
"I like this," said Luan. "Carry on, Adeo." He looked enthralled at Harvey's rage.
"I was known to the people that saw me leave the scene. We all were; we ran the place. My brother took the rap for me, and then travelled back to Portugal, while I hid in Britain with some allies far away from this place."
Harvey fell limp and hung from his bindings. His arms stretched awkwardly upwards. His head hung towards the cold, hard ground.
"Is that your story, Adeo?" asked Luan.
Adeo nodded.
"So, you are a coward? You ran and let your brother take the blame. Are you ashamed?"
Adeo nodded once more. "If it is my time to die, then it was time to tell my story." Adeo looked at Harvey then let his eyes fall to the floor.
"I have decided," said Luan, "which one of you shall die slowly and painfully and which one of you shall die fast." Luan ran the blade along Harvey's chest and took a long, deep breath.
"Adeo, you will suffer in the most horrific manner of deaths. You shall be opened up and gutted like a fish while you still breathe the air of this world. I shall feed you your own liver."
Adeo inhaled sharply but held his face taught and let his cold stare land on Luan's smiling, chilling expression.
"It has to be me," said Harvey quietly.
"Excuse me?" said Luan. "Did you speak?"
"Let me do it."
15
Decoy
"Reg, this is Melody. Come back."
"I hear you, Melody. Where the bloody hell are you? It's so noisy."
"Well, surprise, surprise, Reg, Jackson has a chopper license."
"Oh no, not again."
"It's okay, Reg, we haven't stolen this one. We're in the air now. Where are we going?"
"Looks like Harvey is heading out to Southend on the East Coast."
"What the hell is he doing there?"
"Maybe he fancied a go on the arcade machines?"
"No, this is wrong, Reg."
"The trackers don't lie, Melody."
"Southend, Jackson," said Melody.
"Any idea what he's driving, Reg?"
"Well, the satellite imagery shows that the Range Rover is missing from the junkyard. So I checked with the car's GPS and can confirm that it is also heading towards Southend."
"He's got style," said Jackson.
"He's out of his mind," said Melody. "Okay, Reg, we'll touch base when we're closer."
"Okay," said Reg. "I'm setting up a beta version of LUCY's mobile app on your phone. Wait a minute then you'll find the icon on your screen. You should be able to get a real-time visual of Harvey's chips."
"Perfect," said Melody. "I'll wait one minute then get back to you if I have any issues."
The A127 was a dual carriageway that ran from Romford out to the East Coast, snaking its way through the Essex countryside. Melody waited a minute as directed by Reg, then found the new app on her smartphone home screen. Reg had made the icon a simple L-shape with a stereotypical, cartoon burglar wearing a stripy shirt and a mask over his eyes hiding behind the L.
The app opened into a typical map view, but a drop-down on the left showed various names that Melody could select. Her name was there along with Jackson’s, Reg's and even Frank's. Of course, Harvey's name was there too, so she hit the little check sign next to the names Harvey and Melody. The map showed a waiting sign, then the letters M and H appeared on the screen. H was travelling along the dual carriageway with M approximately two kilometres behind.
"We're close," said Melody to Jackson. "Another two kilometres. Let's take it wide and flank him just in case."
Jackson nodded and turned the chopper south-south-east.
"Reg, come back."
"Go ahead."
"LUCY works fine. We're on him now. We'll let you know when we have him on board."
"Copy that, Melody."
"You do not honestly think that I would cut you down and then arm you?" said Luan.
"You don't need to arm me," said Harvey. He spoke from the very pit of his stomach, staring down at the floor in a mix of disbelief and realisation. He'd accepted long ago that it had been Julios who had killed his parents. He had abandoned any subconscious inclination to hold onto his memory. But Harvey had been wrong, misguided, and now the truth had been laid out in front of him. Adeo was the killer. Adeo was the man he'd been hunting all this time. He had stood side by side with Harvey, protecting him, and now hung from chains in a bunker beside him.
"Let me be the one. I've earned it. I accept death. In fact, it couldn't come sooner, but only once I've finished this."
"No," said Luan coldly. "Why?"
"I was that child, Luan. They were my parents." Harvey fixed Luan in his stare. "I've been chasing this man all my life. So if I'm about to die, at least give me the honour of killing him."
"Interesting," said Luan with consideration. "But I have a better idea." He walked to the bench, rolled up the leather pouch that contained his tools and held them under his arm. Luan opened the door and placed the tools outside then stepped back inside the dark room. He pulled his handgun from inside his coat, and spoke loud and clear.
"You will both fight," said Luan, "to the death."
Harvey looked around and saw only the chair as a potential weapon. "The man who stands at the end will be shot dead. Quite painless."
"Are you going to cut us down?" asked Harvey.
"Oh no, this you must figure out yourselves," said Luan. "Good luck, gentlemen." Luan closed the door.
Before the lock had
been turned, Harvey caught sight of Adeo's leg reaching out to kick Harvey. Harvey lifted his legs and hung from the bindings. He had to get free. If Adeo broke free before him, he would be killed.
With all his remaining energy, Harvey hung from the rope and chains and hoisted his legs up, so his feet were above him on the concrete ceiling. With all his might, he pushed his legs against the roof. But it was no use; the eye bolt was screwed into the thick concrete. He saw Adeo beside him using his immense weight and working the rope back and forth to create friction. Harvey began to do the same with his feet against the ceiling. Pushing down, he ran the rope back and forth until a thin blue smoke began to form. His arms and shoulders ached and burned from being held up in the air. His wrists started to bleed as they rubbed against the harsh manila bindings. But slowly, fibres in the rope began to break.
Harvey glanced across at Adeo who had worked up a rhythm and was making progress. He chanced a wild kick and his boot connected with Adeo's nose, but he continued undeterred. Determination was set on his face.
Harvey worked harder than before. He knew that when the rope eventually gave way, he would crash head first to the floor, but that was inevitable. He heard the splitting of fibres, but not his own. It was Adeo's rope, who was now frantic. His massive bulk hung from the chains, and smoke rose steadily from the bindings.
Harvey doubled his efforts. He chose a longer action to get the most friction. The blood had gone to his head, and he dizzied with the effort, but something inside pushed him on. Some carnal survival instinct told him that if Adeo broke free first, Harvey would die.
He began to hear his own rope splitting.
Adeo's chains rattled beside him.
Smoke, thick now, rose like a flame.
Adeo growled with the effort.
Harvey's breathing fell in time with his rhythmic action; short, sharp stabs of concentrated breath.
Metal clattered.
Faster.
Concrete dust reached Harvey's nostrils.
He pushed harder with his legs against the ceiling.
Adeo stood beside him. His weight had finally ripped the eye bolt from the ceiling. He stood beside Harvey with his wrists still bound, and a heavy lump of chain swinging from the rope.
Harder.
Adeo swung the chain.
Faster.
The steel ring on the end of the chain connected with Harvey's back. He lost his momentum, and his breath stung. Harvey's legs screamed to drop down and give up. His shoulders burned.
Slam. Another blow to his back from the chain.
Blood from his wrists ran down his arms, and flaps of skin on either hand were held open by the harsh rope.
Crack. His shoulder blade took the brunt of the next blow. He worked the rope faster despite his body screaming in pain. He saw the chain being swung back for another blow then finally the rope gave. Harvey fell to the floor and smashed his forehead on the hard concrete. Somewhere, in some other part of his vision, he saw Adeo swing widely and miss. Harvey rolled; he needed distance. Adeo's chains crashed into the concrete beside his head, and Harvey scrambled to his feet. The blood ran back into his limbs. His wrists stung like fire, and his right eye began to swell from hitting the floor. He ducked another of Adeo's wild swings and charged at the big man, catching him off balance. They both stumbled to the ground and Harvey landed two good head butts before Adeo threw him off like a doll. Adeo's nose was broken, and blood ran out freely down his face. He smiled a cruel smile and licked the blood from his lips.
Harvey grabbed the wooden chair, and prodded the big man like a lion tamer, using the chair to block his swinging chain until Adeo wrapped the chain around its legs and wrenched it out of Harvey's hands.
Then Harvey stopped. He calmed himself. Maybe it was the memory of Julios and the discovery of his innocence; he hadn't killed Harvey's parents. He had been a friend. He remembered Julios' words, the same as he had done a thousand times before. Patience, planning and execution.
Harvey waited. He dodged Adeo's wild swings. He planned, analysing Adeo's moves until he spotted a weakness. Most large men like Adeo had protective muscle against their internal organs, which rendered kidney shots or any attempt to wind them useless. The key to fighting larger men was the throat or the groin.
Then it happened. Adeo took a wild downward swing that would have smashed Harvey's skull. But Harvey sidestepped, and with an open hand, he jabbed out at Adeo's throat. One fast jab, in and out. Adeo gasped for breath. The human reaction to loss of airflow is panic. Adeo was no different. He reached up to his throat with his eyes opened wide. Harvey reached out again with both hands and forced his thumbs into Adeo's eye sockets. He pushed hard until both thumbs were up to his knuckles inside Adeo's skull. Then Harvey forced the big man against the concrete wall.
Adeo still fought for breath. He tried to grab Harvey, but he was weak with panic. His attempts were futile. Harvey lifted the big man's head and delivered a headbutt with no effect. He tried again and again until Adeo's nose was a flattened mess on his face. Harvey removed his thumbs. Adeo's eyes searched around uselessly. He was blinded, stumbling and regaining his breath, when Harvey struck once more. The final blow was a perfect uppercut that dislodged Adeo's jaw. The big man fell against the wall with his arms up in defence.
Harvey smashed the wooden chair against the wall and picked up one of the broken legs, an eighteen-inch length of smooth wood that had been lathed perfectly round. One end was broken, pointed and sharp. Harvey stretched his neck right then left, each time waiting for the satisfying click of the joints. Then he moved closer to Adeo who held onto the wall with panic etched across his blind face.
Harvey stood over Adeo in the dim light. He felt power surging through him as if it was fed from Adeo's diminishing will to live. Adeo dropped to his knees then fell forwards onto all fours. Harvey placed his foot on Adeo's back and forced him to the ground. The big man gave little resistance.
"You should know, Harvey," rasped Adeo. "You should know that your father was a good man."
"I have no doubt, Adeo."
"Do you ever wonder where you get your talent, Harvey?"
"Your brother trained me."
"Yes, he trained you, as he trained me also. But you have something inside you, a fire, Harvey. It's in your blood."
"I was just a kid."
"You were a little monster, Harvey. You were always wild. But you were also fair and warm-hearted. It's from Leo I think."
"It didn't do him much good, did it?"
"He died well, Harvey. It is a game we all play, a line we all walk. But we know that one day death will step from the shadows."
"Am I standing in the shadows now, Adeo?"
"No, Harvey, you are not. But then, you were never one to follow the rules."
"Are you ready, Adeo?"
"It was John that gave the order, Harvey," said Adeo. "Remember that. John gave the order, but it was me that carried you away." Adeo's eyes searched blindly for Harvey. Then, as if accepting defeat, they cast down to the floor. Adeo lowered himself to his knees and hung his head. "Do as you must."
Harvey pulled Adeo's head back by his hair and placed the chair leg in his mouth. "Bite."
Adeo closed his mouth around the leg. His teeth bit into one end of the chair leg. The other end rested on the floor. Adeo knew what was coming.
"I'll always remember it, Adeo."
Harvey stamped down on the back of Adeo's head and forced the chair leg up into Adeo’s brain.
"There he is, Jackson, ten o'clock. He's pulling off the main road."
"Where does that take him?"
"Nowhere. Looks to me like a dead end, just an old farm."
"Okay, I'm going to take us down lower."
Jackson eased forward on the collective, which changed the pitch of the blades. The chopper descended slightly, and Jackson maintained an altitude of fifty metres, swinging the bird around to the car's right-hand side.
"I can't see much," said Mel
ody. "Looks like he has a passenger."
"Unless he's tied up in the boot."
"The thought crossed my mind too, Jackson. But I don't believe it. Whatever is happening, Harvey is in control."
The car came to a stop at the edge of a field, and Jackson descended more to bring the chopper down on the grass beside it. The passenger window rolled down, and the muzzle of an AK-74 thrust out and began to let off short bursts at the helicopter.
"Whoa, abort," said Melody. A few of the rounds glanced off the fuselage.
"Holy crap. What did you say about Harvey being in control?"
Two men climbed out the SUV and took aim at the helicopter. Jackson banked right and took the chopper well clear of the gun's effective range.
"Now what?"
"Put me down somewhere. The only way out is back along that lane, so get me in front of them."
"You asked for it."
Jackson took the chopper down in the field a few metres from where the narrow lane met the busy dual carriageway. Melody saw the lights of the car turning in the distance; it was coming back. "Get up high, I'll disable the car." She took a quick glance at the LUCY app on her phone and saw that Harvey was stationary where the car had stopped. "Harvey is up there. Go check he's okay, I'll take care of these guys." Melody cocked the MP5, slammed the door and ran off towards the lane to cut the car off.
She stood in the tree line as the headlights grew closer. Then she stepped out and fired off a full magazine in three round bursts. The left-hand tyres blew out, the windscreen shattered and the car ploughed into the drainage ditch on the side of the track in a puff of steam. Melody changed magazines and stepped up.
"Out of the car, now," she yelled.
There was no reply. The driver was slumped over the wheel. Then the passenger door opened and the AK opened up. Melody dropped to the ground, rolled, aimed, fired, rolled, aimed, fired. The shooting stopped. Melody lay still. Then gravity took over the body of the passenger; it slid from the car and slumped awkwardly onto the ground.
Melody got up into a crouch and made her way carefully to the back of the car. She kicked the AK away from the dead man and surveyed the damage. Melody's first burst had taken the driver out. He'd been hit in the neck and the chest and stared at her with dead eyes. The second man had been hit in the face with her last burst. He wasn't a pretty sight.